Surname Janasek - Meaning and Origin
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Janasek: What does the surname Janasek mean?
The surname Janasek is of Czech origin, derived from the personal name Jan. This is one of the oldest Czech given names, derived from the Latin “Iohannes”. It translates to "God is gracious” and has been used since the early Middle Ages. Janasek is likely an occupational surname, derived from the occupation of a carpenter or a singer.
Variations of the Janasek surname include Janacek, Janosik, and Janosyk. It is most common in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and in countries around the world that have large populations of Czech ancestry. Within the United States, Janasek is most prevalent in the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Texas.
The coat of arms for the surname Janasek features two crossed swords beneath an outlined shield, which is itself rested upon a club. The club is a symbol of strength and is indicative of the great strength the Janasek family has shown throughout their history.
Since this surname dates back to the early Middle Ages, it is likely the Janasek family has a long and distinguished history. This family name has served as a symbol of one family’s dedicated devotion to the preservation of Czech culture and ancestry.
Order DNA origin analysisJanasek: Where does the name Janasek come from?
The last name Janasek is most commonly found among people who have their roots in the Czech Republic. Janasek is a very old Czech surname that is derived from Jan and Sek, which both mean God and protector, respectively. This surname first began to come to prominence around the 14th century, when it was used among the ruling class. Today, Janasek is most commonly found in Bohemia, Central Moravia, and Slovakia, as well as in Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Germany, and Romania. It is also found in the United States, as many people of Slavic decent immigrated to America in the 19th century.
The Janasek name is emblematic of the Czech culture and is commonly associated with good fortune and prosperity. Over the years, people with the Janasek name have been foot soldiers, nobility, lawyers, and doctors. Today, there are still many with the Janasek name living in or hail from Czech lands, and they still honor their family name by engaging in meaningful activities and contributing to their communities.
Variations of the surname Janasek
The surname Janasek is a common Czech and Slovak surname and is found throughout Central and Eastern Europe. The variations of this surname include Janaszek, Janasik, Janasek, Janasic, Janasky, Januszek, Janyszek, Ivanko, and Yavonik.
The original surname Janasek comes from the Slavic name Ivan, derived from the Hebrew Yohanan meaning 'God is gracious'. The suffix -sek/-zek is related to the old Czech for small, implying the surname may have originally indicated something that was small, such as a small tree or a hill.
Over time, several variations of this surname have become established in different regions. In Czech, Janasek is typically spelled with a "k" on the end, while Janyszek is more common among Polish speakers. In Slovakia, Janasek is often spelled with a "c" on the end, leading to the variations Janasic and Janasik.
Outside of Eastern Europe, many descendants of Janasek immigrants may retain the surname, however it may be spelled differently. Examples of alternate spellings found in the United States may include Yavonik, Janoshik, and Yavinski.
In most of Eastern Europe, the surnames Ivanko and Yavonik are used as alternative spellings for Janasek. Ivanko derives from the ancient Slavic name Ivan, while Yavonik is simply the original Janasek spelled using the Latin alphabet.
Overall, the Janasek surname has multiple variants and spellings. Depending on history and region, different variations of the surname are more common. While all of these surnames are related to the original Janasek, the alternative spellings and pronunciations may make tracing ancestry difficult.
Famous people with the name Janasek
- Mark Janasek: an American football cornerback and special teams player who was most recently with the Miami Dolphins.
- Laura Janasék: an American filmmaker and actress who rose to fame in the late 1990s with the films Slipstream and Easy.
- John Janásek: a Czech film director and screenwriter known for his dark comedy films such as Dark Angels and Rajská Záhrada.
- Karel Janásek: a Czech Republic boxer who won gold in the super heavyweight division of the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.
- Vaclav Janasek: a Czech professional ice hockey player who played with HC Sparta Praha in the Czech Extraliga from 1989 until 2018.
- Jakub Janasek: a Czech singer-songwriter described as a "modern folk bard" who has released five albums and performed at various festivals globally.
- Pavel Janasek: a former racing cyclist from the Czech Republic who participated in the 1995 Tour de France, as well as other prestigious races.
- Stanislav Janasek: a professor of psychology at Palacky University in Olomouc, the Czech Republic, whose research focuses on decision making and cognitive biases.
- Jakub Janasek: an animator, director, producer, and writer known for his award-winning animated shorts such as Her Mother's Shadow and The Apple Witch of Prague.
- Václav Janásek: a Czech composer of classical music who wrote works in many genres, including symphonies, ballets, choruses, and operas.